Flash-light apparatus.



No, 741,214. PATENTBD OCT. 13 1903. C. A. BARRETT 6: R. W. PAGE.

FLASH LIGHT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13. 1903.

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PATENTED OCT. 13, 1903. G. A. BARRETT & R. W; PAGE.

FLASH LIGHT APPARATUS.

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PATENT CHARLES ARTHUR BARRETT AND ROBERT WILLIAM PAGE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO R. BARRETT (h SON, LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, A COMPANY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

FLASH LIGHT APPARATUS.

'srncrrrcnrron forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,214, dated October is, 1903.

Original application filed October 171 1902, Serial No. 127,738. Divided and this application filed June 13,1903. Serial No. 161,375. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: Be it known that we, CHARLES ARTHUR BARRETT and ROBERT WILLIAM PAGE, sub jccts of His Majesty the King of Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented a certain new and useful Flash-Light Appa ratus,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flash-light appa ratus in which magnesium or other suitable powder or mixtures are fired to produce a bril liant and instantaneous light, the apparatus being particularly adapted, among other purposes, for use in connection with an automatic photograph-machine forming the "subject of an invention made by us and a part of which machine is described in our application filed October 17, 1902,under Serial No. 127,73S,and of which this is a divided case.

The invention will be described in connection with such an apparatus, and from such description its general adaptations will be readily seen.

In apparatus for taking photographs mechanically or automatically in which the picture is taken and developed by the action of the sitter alone or by the assistance of an attendant it is of the greatest importance to secure uniform results that the exposure should be the same in all cases, and for this purpose it is necessary to have a constant source of light. It has heretofore been proposed to employ a flash-light for the purpose; but no satisfactory mechanism has been suggested, so far as we are aware. The mechanism we have invented for the purpose is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation with a part broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of apart of same. Fig. 4 is a detail hereinafter described, and Fig. 5 is a plan on line A B of Fig. '4.

The apparatus is in the instance we are illustrating attached to the front of the casing of the automatic or mechanical photographmachine or is otherwise supported and is brought into operation after a plate has been dropped behind the lens and the latter has been uncovered, allof which parts, as well as the mechanism for setting it in motion, do not form part of the present invention.

In Fig. 2 the front wall of the casing is marked 6, and to this is secured a bracket 35, having a right-angle part 56 to form a safetyshield between the flash-light part of the ap paratus and the hopper containing the illuminating-powder. On the part is fixed a spirit lamp or burner 36, which, if it has not a reservoirfor spirit of its own, may be supplied by a pipe from a suitable tank.

Above the burner 36 and nearly in the vertical path of the flame is a nozzle 40, which communicateswith some suitable compressedair device, such as pump 42, the construction and operation of which does not form. part of the present invention, but which is adapted to force a blast of air through pipe 41 and the nozzle 40 when desired.

At the right hand of and behind the part 56 is a supplementary frame 48, formed of rods, and at the left hand of part 35 is a further bracket 49. Between the ends of the frame 48 and the bracket 49 extend rods 50 50,which pass through an opening in part 56 and terminate in a plate 53 and form a guideway for a pair of sleeves-51, which are part of and support a frame or carriage 52. Inside the part or shield 56 is a second shield 54, carried by the sleeves 51 51 and serving to close openin gs 57 57 in the shield 56 to prevent any flame passing through the latter. These openings 57 57 are connected at one side thereof by a vertical slot (not shown on account of the manner in which the section is taken) which allows the web forming the frame or carriage 52, above referred to, to pass through. The frame 52 carries double plates 59 60, the latter capable of sliding on the former and carrying at its forward end a stop-pin 61, projecting through opening 57 and an opening in shield 54. The plate 60 is normally pressed forward on plate 59 by a spring 62 or a weight acting against the end 63 of plate 59 andalso carries a receptacle 64 for the powder, the bottom of which is open, but is normally closed by plate 59. This latter, however, is provided with an opening 65.

Attached to the front of shield 54 is a cord 66, passing through bracket 49 and over a pulley 67, supported by said bracket, while projecting from the bracket 49 is an arm 68, carrying another powder-receptacle 69.

The cord 66 passes down to some suitable operating mechanism which is adapted to pull it as required, such as the pulley 71 on shaft 72, which may carry a clockwork-train the drum, &c., of which is indicated at 500.

Surrounding the spirit-burner 36 is a loose sleeve 73, supported by a cam 74, connected by a link 75 to a rod 76 and movable in a sleeve or bearing 77, carried by bracket 49, such rod terminating in a handle 78.

When the parts are in the position shown, the sleeve exposes the whole of the burner; but if the rod 76 is drawn out by hand the cam will so raise the sleeve as to partly cover the burner, thus diminishing the flame and saving spirit when the apparatus is not in use.

Attached outside bracket 56 is a bracket 80, which supports the powder-hopper. This consists of a coned base 81, Fig. 3, in the lower part of which is a rotatable plug 82, havinga recess 84 and situated above an opening 83. The base 84 carries a cylinder 85, preferably of glass, having a screwed collar 86, to which is applied a screwed cover 87. Through this passes a spindle 88, rotatable in the cover, but attached thereto by a collar 89 and carried by said spindle in the cylinder or stirring-arms 90. Outside the cover the spindle carries a gear 91 and above same is itself carried by a bearing 92 of an arm 93, which is slidable on a spindle 94 and carries in turn a gear 95, said spindle 94 being supported in bearings of the bracket 80. By this arrangement the cover 87 may be unscrewed and raised, together with the stirrers and arm 93, which can slide on spindle 94. At its lower end the spindle 94 has a star-wheel 96 and a bevel-gear 97, the latter engaging with a gear 98 on a spindle 99, which carries the plug 82. Attached to the bracket is a curved spring 100, the free end of which has a hammer-head 101 bearing on a flat surface 102 of the base 81, and at a midway point of the spring is a block 103, Fig. 2, which is engaged by the teeth of the star-wheel, so that rotation of said wheel will. cause the hammer 101 to tap the base 81 and keep the powder from clogging.

The spindle 99 carries at its other end a bevel-gear 104, engaging with a gear 105 on a vertical shaft 106, driven when required at its lower end from some suitable operating mechanism, such as by bevel-gears 107 108 from shaft 72. Hence rotation of this shaft 106 and connected parts will rotate the plug 82, bringing the recess 84, containing a charge of powder, over the opening 83, down which the powder will fall into receptacle 64, and the rotation of spindle 94 by spindle 99 will at the same time, through gears 91, rotate the stirrers 90.

When the operating mechanism of the apparatus is rotated in the opposite direction,

such as in the process of winding up the drum 500, if it is clockwork the cord 66 will draw forward the carriage 52, the plates 59 and 60 composing same traveling together until the receptacle 64 is over receptacle 69, when the stop-pin 61, striking bracket 49, will prevent further movement of receptacle 64 and the continued movement of the carriage will bring the opening 65 of plate 59 under the opening of receptacle 64, thus allowing the charge of powder to fall into receptacle 69. At the rear of carriage 52 is a cord 110, passing over pulley 111, carried in pivot-bearings 112 112 on the frame 48,said cord terminating in a weight 113, so that at the conclusion of the forward movement the weight 113 will draw back the carriage to its normal position, the spring 62 returning the plate, so as to close opening 65, when the carriage commences to return. Thus a charge of powder is left in receptacle 69 ready to be subjected to the flame, which is thereupon projected into it from the nozzle 40 by the blast apparatus employed and the required flash is produced.

The means by which rotation of the plug of the powder-hopper is obtained only when the machine is running down is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in which it will be seen that a disk 180, fixed on shaft 106, carries on its lower face a pivoted pawl 181, which engages a notch in a sleeve 187, secured by a pin 188 to a sleeve 189 loose on shaft 106 and carrying the bevel-wheel 105, so that rotation of shaft 106 will turn gear in one direction only. A stop-pawl 191, pivoted to an arm 192 of a bracket 193, attached to a part of the frame, prevents movement of sleeve 187 in the reverse direction. The parts above the plate 180 form part of a mechanism for dropping a photographic plate on the reverse movement of the shaft and do not form a part of the present invention.

We have described the arrangement for measuring a charge of powder, as a plug 84, having a recess and being operated by the shaft 99; but it may consist of a measuringtap of any suitable form, which is turned into position for receiving a charge by the carriage when it moves forward and discharges by the latter on its return.

What we claim is 1. In a flash-light apparatus, the combination with a hopper for illuminating-powder, of a burner, a fixed receptacle for the powder in front of the burner, means for carrying a charge of powder from the hopper to the receptacle and discharging it therein and means for forcing a blast of air against the flame and carrying said flame into the receptacle.

2. In a flash-light apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for illuminating-powder, means for opening and closing the discharge-passage of same, a burner, a fixed powder-receptacle, and means for projecting a blast of air over the burner into the receptacle, of a carriage an open-bottom powder-re IIO ceptacle a movable plate carrying said receptacle, a fixed plate having an opening supporting the movable plate and forming part of the carriage, guides on which said carriage may travel, means for drawing the carriage and its receptacle over the fixed receptacle, means whereby the continued movement of such carriage operates the movable plate to bring the open-bottom receptacle over the fixed receptacle for discharge, and means for returning the movable plate to close the opening in the carriage.

3. In a flash-light apparatus, the combination with a hopper for illuminating-powder, a further receptacle for such powder at some distance from the hopper, means for carrying a charge of powder from the hopper to the receptacle, a burner, a nozzle situated near the latter, means for forcing a blast of air against the flame of the burner and carrying said flame into the receptacle, and a shield separating the powder-receptacle from the burner.

4:. In a flash-light apparatus and in combination, a hopper for the illuminating-powder, a carriage, a receptacle for the powder carried thereby, means for discharging a given quantity of powder from the hopper into such receptacle, a burner, means for discharging a blast of air into same, a fixed receptacle near the burner, a shield carried by the front of the carriage to separate the burner from the powder-hopper, means for drawing forward the carriage, means for emptying the receptacle of the latter into the fixed receptacle and means for restoring the parts.

5. In a flash-light apparatus, the combination with a hopper for illuminating-powder, of a rotatable plug having a measuring-recess in same, means for rotating the plug and thereby delivering a measured quantity of powder at each rotation, a receptacle for the powder delivered, and means for moving said receptacle and discharging the powder from same.

6. In a flash-light apparatus, a hopper for illuminating-powder, means for discharging a regulated quantity therefrom, stirrer-arms in such hopper, a cover for the hopper carrying such arms, means for carrying said cover and arms, whereby they may be raised and turned out of the way, and means for rotating the arms.

7. In a flash-light apparatus, a hopper for illuminating-powder, means for discharging a regulated quantity therefrom, and means for tapping the receptacle during the process of discharge to keep the powder in an open condition.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES ARTHUR BARRETT. ROBERT WILLIAM PAGE.

WVitnesses to the signature of Charles Arthur Barrett:

ROBERT HENRY COLE, JOHN AoHBY.

Witnesses to the signature of Robert William Page:

JOSEPH F. WRIGHT, PAUL Downs. 

